Man shot in head drives self to fire station

A Portland man who was shot in the head Thursday morning in Warren drove himself to the Columbia River Fire and Rescue Fairgrounds Station looking for help.

The 10:30 a.m. shooting of Anthony Connelly, 36, is believed to be drug related, said Columbia County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Dustin Hald.

The suspect, Jesus Ochoa, 48, whose last known address is in Rainier, was arrested early Saturday morning holed up in a Tacoma motel. He is now in custody at the Pierce County Jail in Washington.

Sheriff Jeff Dickerson said the shooting seemed to stem from a dispute between the two men.

That dispute is thought to have began in St. Helens and continued in the rural Warren area where Connelly was allegedly shot by Ochoa.

Connelly was released from the hospital Thursday evening. Dickerson said he was presumably shot with a small-caliber handgun round that traveled through a car window before hitting Connelly in the head. The bullet did not enter his skull.

A female passenger in Connelly's black Volvo was questioned by police, but Dickerson would not release her name or her association to the men.

Both Connelly and Ochoa are well known to local law enforcement and have served time in the Columbia County Jail.

Police are investigating multiple crime scenes in addition to the fairgrounds fire station on Saulser Road, including the intersection of Tarbell Road and Shamrock Lane in Warren. A sheriff's office deputy was also seen stationed on south Bachelor Flat Road where it intersects with Blaha Road.

If you believe you know of Ochoa's location, call the sheriff's tip line at 503-366-4698.